Ratchet-tool



E. H. BARTON.

RATcHElooL. APPLICAHON FILED SEPT.26. i911 RENEWED DEC. l2. 918.

Patented July 15, 1919.

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N M S NN NN @mm xm mgm ATTORNEY WITN ESSES unirse STATES PATENT ermee.

EDWARD H. BARTON, OF SPRAGnUE, WASHINGTON.

lRATCHET-TOOL.

Application led September 2 6, 1'9'17', Serial No. 193,358. RenewedDecember 12, 1918.

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, Elo-wann H. BARTON, acitizen of the United States, residing at Spra ue, in the county ofLincoln and State of Vigashington, have invented a new and usefulRatchet-Tool, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a ratchet tool, and more particularly to theclass of reversible Screwdrivers and drills of the ratchet type withinterchangeable bits.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a tool of thischaracter, wherein bits for the execution of different characters ofwork, can be interchaneed with` despatch, each bit being reversible,thus embodying two implements in one.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tool of thischaracter wherein the construction thereof is novel in form, to assurethe easy handling of the tool, and to render the tool positive in:operation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tool ofthis character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable andeflicaeious in operation, strong, durable, and inexpensive tomanufacture.

Other objects will be in part obvious, and in part hereinafter pointedout.

The invention accordingly consists in the features. of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which; will beexempliied in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe application of whichY will be indicated in thel following claims.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsectionalL elevation of a tool, constructed in accordance with theinvention, the bit and sleeve being shown by full linesl in normalposition, and by dotted lines in another po*V sition for the adjustmentof said bit.

Eig.y 2 is a transverse sectional' view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,looking in, the direction of the arrowshowing thecatch or aetuator forthe pawl or dog 1n neutral position.

Fig. 3 is a similar View toFig; 2, with. the catch. or actuator moved tothe left.

Fig.l 4 is a simlarview with the catch or actuator moved to the richtfor the reverse action of the ratchet mee -anism Eig. 5 isaJ fragmentaryplan view of the Stock of the tool.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of theiferrule.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

serial No. 266,496.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the sleeve, shank and bit.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the catch or actuator.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the pawl or dog.

Fig. 10 is a plan view o1 a screw-driver and drill bit.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a. modified form of bit.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line 12-12 of Fig. 7.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral 'views of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 1() designates a stock, preferablymade from metal having formed longitudinally there in, and openingthrough the outer end thereof, a chamber 11 -lor accommodating bits,while formed in the opposite end, is the socket 12, which receives theinner end of a rotatable shank 13. The soc-ket'12 is formedy with awidened portion 14, for acconunmlut- 'ing a ratchet wheel 15 and its hub1G, fixed to or integral with the shank 13, and this hub 16 is shaped toconstitute a cone for bearing balls 17, which are held within theportion 14 of the socket 12, thereby mini mining friction in therotation of the shank. Surrounding the stock 10 for a greater portion ofits length, is a sleeve-like hand gri-p or handle 18, which is fixedthereto in any suitable manner, while telescoped upon the remainingportion of the stock 10, is a 'ferrule 19, which is formed with areduced outer end portion 20, of a c1-'osssectioinil diameter greaterthan the cross-sectional diameter ot the shank ,13, for the snugslidable fitting of a sleeve 21 therein, which t sleeve looselysurrounds the shank 13, und is iior the purpose hereinafter described.

vTapped through the ferrule 19 and the stock 10, to intersect the socket12, is a rctaining screw 22, which has itsinner end engaged in theannular groove 23V formed in the shank 13, and in this manner the latteris swiveled in the stock, while said screw 22 also fastens the ferruleupon the stock.

rlhe Walt` of the portion 11 of the socket 12 in the stock 10, is cutaway to provide a recess 24E, for accommodatinga duplex pawl or clog'25,andi opening into the recess 241, is a counter-seat 26, which hasintersecting the same a notch 27, the latter and the counterseat beingformed in the outer face of the wall, and they accommodate anoutwardlybowed spring 28, which is formed with hook ends 29, one beingengageable in the notch 27, and the other engageable with the pawl ordog 25 to hold the same against movement out of the recess 24, and inoperative relation to the ratchet wheel 15. The spring 28 is held inplace by the ferrule 19, engaged with the stock.

The ferrule 19 is formed with a transverse slot 30, having at intervalsin one edge notches 31, and: working in this slot is the finger-engagingnib or end 32 of the catch or actuator, which is in the form of amutilated disk 33, which looselyV surrounds the shank 13, the disk beingcentrally perforated for accommodating the shank. The mutilated portionof said disk 33 serves as a cam edge 34 for action upon the duplex pawlor dog 25, for the right-hand or left-hand ratchet action thereof on theratchet wheel 15, or for permitting the pawl to assume a neutralposition for locking the ratchet wheel against rotation in eitherdirection. The notches 31 permit the nib or end 32, which is suitablyroughened for easy finger manipulation, to engage in any one of saidnotches for holding the catch or actuator in adjusted position.

The shank 13 is formed with a bifurcated outer end, the bifurcation 34aof which receives therein a reversible and removable bit 35, which isformed with a screw-driver end 36 and opposite drill end 37 thuseffecting two tools in one, the bit being formed in one face mediallythereof with an indentation 38, for the engagement therein of a pivotscrew 39, which is threaded throughy one limb of the bifurcated end ofthe shank 13, so that the bit 35 can be reversed for presenting eitherend thereof in working position. Y

The bit 35 can be removed for permitting the interchanging of bits, forexample, the substitution of the bit 40 shown in Fig. 11 of the drawing,which is formed with different width screw-driver ends 41, therebymaking the bit handy for use withdifferent sizes ofscrews. To remove thebit, it is necessary to slide the sleeve 21 inwardly of the ferrule 19,and thereafter swing the hit at right angles to the shank 13, thereuponon twisting the bit, the bifurcated end of the shank will be caused tospread, and a slight pullv upon the bit will disengage it from the screw39 for the quick removal of said bit. Now to insert a substitute bit,each ofthe 'bits is formed in one or both opposite faces withlongitudinal channels or grooves 35" to provide a guide-way for thescrew 39, so that on inserting either end of the-'bit in the bifurcationin the shank 13, the rounded end of the screw 39 will engage in thegroove Y 35, thereby guidingthe bit until the screw ferrule 19, is acoiled expansion spring'42,

which has one end working against the catch or actuator 33, and itsopposite end bearing against the inner end of the sleeve 21, which isformed with a seat l43 for this end of the spring, the latter beingdesigned to force the sleeve outwardly of the reduced end 20 of theferrule 19. The outward movement of said sleeve is limited by contactthereof with the screw 39,'in which position saidsleeve holds fthe bit35 against reverse movement, or swinging in the bifurcated end of theshank. The sleeve at its outer end portion is formed with a knurledexternal surface 44, to be gripped by the lingers of the user when thetool is in operatio-m'thereby guiding and holding said tool properlycentered relative to the work. The shank 13 is freelyv rotatable in thesleeve, while the sleeve is freely rotatable in the ferrule. rlhe spring42 by bearing at one end against the sleeve 21 and at the other againstthevactuator 33, performs two functions. lt maintains the sleeve inextended relation and vgives ten sion to the actuator and holds it toits work.

Fitted in the outer end of the chamber 11, in the stock 10, is aremovable cap 45, the rim 46 of whichis slotted and telescopes intov thechamber, and working through the slots is a coiled spring 47, whichfrictionally engages the wall of the chamber 11, to retain the cap inthe stock to close the 'chamberrll therein.

It will be obvious, that the tool can be, operated in eitherdirectionfor either righ-tor left-hand rotation, and when the tool is adapted foruse as a screw-driver, itmay. be used to drive the screw into the work,without changing the grip on the handle, or ren'ioving the bit from thescrew head, and by shifting the catch or actuator 33, the screw maybewithdrawn under like conditions. If the catch or actuator 33 isshifted to neutral position, shown in l? ig. .-2 ofthe rie drawing, thepawl or dog 25, will lockfwith c the ratchet wheel 15, and the shank13will not revolve in either direction, and the tool may be used in theusual manner. i

On moving-the sleeve 21 inwardly within the ferrule 19, the bit' 35 Vcanbe reversedso that it may be positioned for use as a drill Vorscrew-driver, accordingly tothe end presented to the work. The sleeve21, whenfin the position shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawing,"

locks the bit against reversal.

It is obvious that by reason of thel bits be- Y ing detachable,different sizes and combina tions of bits ycan be 'interchanged,therebymaking the tool handy for the execution of different characters of Work.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction and manner ofOperation of the tool will be clearly understood, and therefore a moreextended explanation has been omitted.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a tool of the character described, a shank having a bifurcatedend, a bit mounted in the bifurcated end for swinging movement t0 permitreversal thereof, a freely rotatable sleeve slidable on the shank formovement over the Ibifurcated end to hold the bit in its reversedposition, means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the sleeve, astock supporting the shank, a ferrule on s-aid stock surrounding theshank and sleeve, and a spring Within the ferrule and acting upon thesleeve to normally hold the same 1n its extended position, said sleevebeing slidable inwardly against the tension of the spring so as to allowthe reversal of the bit.

2. In a tool of the character described, a shank having a bifurcatedend, a bit mounted in the bifurcated end for swinging movement to permitreversal thereof, a freely rotatable sleeve slidable on the shank formovement over the bifurcated end to hold the bit in its reversedposition, a .pivot screw for detachably holding the bit in saidbifui-cated end and forming a stop for the sleeve, and a spring fornormally holding the sleeve in extended position against the stop.

3. In a tool of the character described, a shank having a bifurcatedend, a bit mounted in the bifurcated end for swinging movement to permitreversal thereof, a freely rotatable sleeve slidable on the shank formovement over the bifurcated end to hold the bit in its reversedposition, a pivot screw for detachably holding the bit in saidbifurcated end and forming a stop for the sleeve, a stock rotatablysupporting the shank, a fel-rule on said stock and surrounding the shankand sleeve, and means Within the ferrule and acting upon the sleeve tonor.- mally hold the same extended against the stop.

4. The combination with a stock, a shank rotatably mounted in andprojecting from said stock, a ferrule on said stock surrounding theshank, a freely rotatable sleeve slidable on the shank and litting atits inner end within the ferrule, a spring coiled on the shank andengaging the sleeve and arranged within the ferrule, means for limitingthe longitudinal movement of the sleeve, and a double-ended bit pivotedon the outer end of the shank and adapted to be reversed, said sleeveretaining the bit in either of its adjusted positions.

5. In combination With a stock, a shank rotatably mounted in andprojecting from said stock, a ferrule on said stock surrounding theshank, a freely rotatable sleeve slidable on the shank, and fitting atits inner' end Within the ferrule, said sleeve having at its outer end aknurled external surface, a spring coiled on the shank and gaging thesleeve and arranged Wlthin the ferrule, means for limiting thelongltudinal movement of the sleeve, and a doubleended bit pivoted onthe outer end of the shank and adapted to he reversed, said sleeveretaining the bit in either of its adjusted positions, and said knurledexternal surface being adapted to be grasped when rotating the shankWithin the sleeve.

G. In a tool of the character described, a stock *having a hand grip andalso provided with a societ, a shank rotatable in the socket, apaWl-and-ratchet mechanism for said shank fitted in the socket, aferrule surrounding the shank and fitted on the stock .and inclosingsaid paWl-and-ratchet mechanism, a manually movable actuator camrotatable on the shank and engageable with the paWl of saidpaWl-and-ratchet mechanism for moving the same, a sleeve rotatablysupported upon the shank and fitted for sliding movement Within Itheferrule,

:and a coiled expansion spring surrounding the shank Within the fel-ruleand bearing at one end against the sleeve to normally hold 'the latterextended and at the other end vlmaring against the actuator cam.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing :as my own, I have heretoallixed my signature.

EDWARD H, BARTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

